Tim Larson & The Owner Operatorsannounce the release of A New Deal, April 15, 2011, just in time for you to pay your taxes. And I have to imagine the symbolism is intentional. The album is about the working man getting shafted. It is understated and low-key, like a guy bringing his lunch to work in a sack. But underneath? The music and the guy with the lunch sack are pissed off.

The band played a couple of shows during SXSW (you can hear one of these shows on the band website) in Austin and will be performing several in the Chicago area, including some for Record Store Day which is the day after the release hits the streets. Dates below.

Larson is a former member of the Irish band, The Drovers and a long time asphalt worker. This is the first “band” record following the solo record, No Weapons, Allies. If you listen you can hear influences from John Lee Hooker to Radiohead to My Bloody Valentine to traditional Irish fare.